Megapixel Calculator

What is a Megapixel?

A megapixel (MP) equals one million pixels. It measures the total number of pixels in a digital image or camera sensor. A 24-megapixel camera captures images with 24 million individual pixels, typically arranged as 6000 × 4000.

The Core Formulas

• Megapixels from dimensions: MP = (Width × Height) ÷ 1,000,000
• Total pixels from megapixels: Pixels = MP × 1,000,000
• Width from MP and aspect ratio: Width = √(Pixels × (W÷H))
• Height from MP and aspect ratio: Height = √(Pixels × (H÷W))

Aspect Ratio and Megapixels

The same megapixel count produces different dimensions depending on the aspect ratio. For example, 24 MP at 3:2 gives 6000 × 4000, while 24 MP at 16:9 gives 6532 × 3674. The total pixel count remains the same, but the shape of the image changes.

Common Aspect Ratios

• 3:2 — Standard for full-frame and APS-C DSLRs and mirrorless cameras
• 4:3 — Micro Four Thirds cameras, smartphones, and older digital cameras
• 16:9 — Video and widescreen displays (Full HD, 4K, 8K)
• 1:1 — Square format, medium format film, social media
• 5:4 — Some medium format cameras and print sizes

Do More Megapixels Mean Better Quality?

Not necessarily. More megapixels provide higher resolution and more detail, allowing larger prints and more aggressive cropping. However, image quality also depends on sensor size, lens quality, ISO performance, and dynamic range. A 12 MP full-frame sensor can produce better images than a 48 MP smartphone sensor in many conditions.

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